Ozias comment “Please support the modest Clallam County general fund levy lid lift this November so we can maintain service across all departments, from SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES to PUBLIC HEALTH to COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT to ELECTIONS. The county has worked very hard to cut costs and BUILD EFFICENCIES, but without additional support from you, we will be forced to consider ADDITIONAL PAINFUL CUTS” — Commissioner Mark Ozias
This is not a comment, this is a threat to the community! His naming the very offices that protect us, is a way to hold us hostage. Instead, he could have looked deeper and named many other areas that should be cut WAY before our safety and security. That is called being part of the solution.
In the least, the County Commissioners should step forward and offer to take pay cuts so that along with the rest of us, they would feel the ADDITIONAL PAINFUL CUTS and not have other people feel the pain and devastation when they lose their jobs! We need more police not threats!
Clallam County provides services as required by law or mandated BY THE PUBLIC. Through EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT of PERSONNEL and other resources, the County strives to provide the basic facilities and programs which promote HEALTH, SAFETY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS CITIZENS.
Core Values
• Leadership
• Collaboration
• ACCOUNTABILITY
• COMMUNICATION with our EMPLOYEES and CITIZENS
• Partnerships with industry
• Customer service
LONG-TERM GOALS:
Clallam County's Strategic Plan contains thirteen long-term goals: (Here are the TOP three)
• Keep Clallam County Government Effective
• Provide for the SAFETY and SECURITY of County citizens
Clallam County Scrambles to Close $1.9 Million Budget Gap Without Layoffs
• by Radio Pacific, Inc
• October 9, 2025
PORT ANGELES — Clallam County officials are working to avoid layoffs as they address a projected $1.9 million budget deficit for 2026.
County Administrator Todd Mielke presented a preliminary budget this week, saying the shortfall—originally estimated at nearly $3.3 million—was reduced through one-time and recurring revenue sources, as well as spending cuts.
“If you had asked me six weeks ago where I thought we were, I would have said we were looking at eliminating the equivalent of 20 to 25 positions. I’m happy to say there’s a way — using a lot of one-time budget adjustments — that won’t require any reductions. It’s not sustainable, it gets us through one year,” said Mielke.
Revenue boosts include $549,000 from water project fund transfers, $200,000 in surplus property sales, and increased tax and fee projections. Spending cuts total over $1 million, including reductions in grants, labor placeholders, and software costs.
The proposed $55.7 million general fund budget includes $58.2 million in expenditures—up nearly 5 percent from 2025—driven mostly by payroll and benefits.
Commissioners are weighing six budget options, ranging from temporary fixes to cuts affecting up to 11 full-time positions. No decisions have been made.
- They are considering a "one-time" dip into reserves to bridge the gap. This puts off the hard decisions and kicks the can down the road until next year.
- Announcing that they are going to lay off 25 people, and then announcing they have done the hard work to keep them all, is just a way to pat themselves on the back and show the public how creative they are, like they are putting in the hard work. I'd guess that was always the plan so that they can pat themselves on the back.
- The $549k from a water project, I believe, was earmarked for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir that is awaiting $30 million in funding from FEMA. With federal funding uncertainty, I think they feel comfortable bringing that money back into the general fund for now... but they could need it later if the project gets greenlit.
- I'm not sure about the $200k in surplus property sales. I sat through that, and have forgotten.
- Part of the spending cuts are to the Clallam Conservation District. They aren't funding them $60k/year anymore because YOU are funding them $2 million over the next decade. They call that savings.
The shell game (also known as thimblerig, three shells and a pea, the old army game) is a public gambling game that challenges players to follow the movement of a marker hidden under one of several covers (shells). In practice, the game is almost always run as a confidence trick that uses sleight of hand to transfer the marker between covers.
Easiest way to look at it. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. In a few short months, some other long forgotten and overlooked program will have a shortfall and they will have to find another "can" to kick down the road.
Weird...I've never seen any Leadership, Accountability, or Communication with citizens, come out of any of our Commissioners for many years! Are you sure that our Commissioners have read their own Mission Statement?!?!?!
This is a threat! And Ozias IS holding us all hostage. Free pizza, anyone? “Please support the modest Clallam County general fund levy lid lift this November so we can maintain MODEST service across all departments"
It's called extortion, or if you want to use the political term, it's called quid pro quo. The Mafia used it very effectively for years by telling store owners that they would be protected from the thugs if they paid the Mafia x amount of dollars per year for protection. Granted, the Mafia was/were the thugs that store owners were paying the Mafia to save them from. It's quite ingenious and eliminates those horrible middlemen. As for the County Commissioners taking a pay cut...surely, you jest. They're working very, very hard to rip you off. Have a heart.
Good article, hope people’s eyes are opening up. A friend of mine had an encounter at his elderly father’s house. His father lives off a road and down a private road along with 3 other neighbors. His dad saw a car down by his shop and told my friend. The friend went down there to find an Oregon car with a guy and women in it. He tapped on the window and asked what they were doing there. They said they came up from Oregon and was looking for a place to sleep. Not here you aren’t and in not such kind words get out of here. He could tell that they were druggies. Thank goodness he was there who knows what would have happened.
I find these people come down our private road at least 4-5 times a week and we have to chase them off. There’s to much drug abuse, stealing, and I’m scared physical altercations going on.
Citizens of CLALLAM COUNTY, please don’t take Ozias fear monger make you vote differently, the only way we can get to right the wrong is to stand up to them!!
There is a win win, but the politicians we elect will not get us there. The preoccupation with minority-ism in it's infinite forms, ( indigenous, darker skin color, female, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual deviancy, drug addicted, obesity, DEI, MWBE, LGBTQ+ etc. ), must end. In aggregate this futile pursuit of some utopian equality is horribly expensive and it is unattainable. The nature of nature is that we are all unique. We cannot and never will be all "the same". All of the investment in minority-ism can be moved to safety and security where it does and will protect everyone equally.
We saw a man waving a machete at Carrie Blake park yesterday. The children from the kids Orchestra noticed him walking through the band shell buildings. The police were called but by the time an officer showed up the man had “disappeared”. Stay safe Sequim……they are everywhere these days!!!
Erin, thank you for telling us about this. Putting the safety of Clallam County Citizens is on the bottom of the list and threatening to be the first cuts made is a breaking point! How could they let it get this bad? Why should children be at risk? Will it take a tragic incident to force the Commissioners to do their job? I'm ashamed they represent us, or rather don't represent us.
AFB, above, Chris Clark just named another incident that seems to happen to TWO citizens. I don't blame the police, what can they do when they are underemployed, underpaid, under-supported and under careless Commissioners.
How many more under-reported incidences are out there?
My daughter described him as a 40-50 year old dirty guy who was large and husky, almost bald, wearing a silver chain and a gold chain, with an oversized Carhartt jacket where he had the machete stashed. He was walking down the breezeway when the kids were going in for Orchestra practice. He wasn’t mean or menacing to the kids but apparently was outside waving the hidden machete around enough to draw attention and a lady saw him and called the police.
Maybe LE should hand out business cards to the unregistered sex offenders they encounter that lists Ozias' address and just the words, "Free housing & pizza."
That way all sex offenders will have an address to be registered to.
One county commissioner stated to me that his number one priority for our tax dollars is public safety. He shows this by rubber stamping every request for money that supports programs that seem to be undermining public safety. Free pizza to entice addicts to quit the addiction. Taxpayer funded housing for homeless and non-profits who make a living from perpetuating rather than solving the problems. The list goes on. Actions have consequences. Science classes taught me that any action has a equal and opposite reaction. Consequences need to be delt out for unlawful behavior. Vagrants (someone who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support) should be dealt with legally, not housed in free buses and allowed, or encouraged, to take up space on our street, sidewalks, alleyways, store parking lots, parks, private drives, etc.. So much for public safety being the number one priority. Put OUR MONEY where your mouth is. Shame!
“The bulk of the county’s money goes toward personnel costs. Payroll is at $29.573 million, or 51 percent, while benefits are at $11.639 million, or 20 percent. Other expenditures include $1.682 million (3 percent) for supplies, $9.679 million (16 percent) for services, $1.351 million (2 percent) for capital, $1.528 million (3 percent) for transfers out, $2.377 million (4 percent) for payment to risk management/WC funds and $392,000 (1 percent) for debt service.
“Expenditures for 2026 are expected to be 4.81 percent (or $2.647 million) more than 2025, according to the presentation.”
In other words, you have too many employees for your budget. Doesn’t that tell you it’s time to trim the fat, along with stupid crap like paying for a poet laureate???
The benefits are over 39% of payroll. I believe benefits are one of the big item destroying America, those with versus those without.
Not including benefits in their remuneration is a subterfuge used by our teachers and others like the Director of Clallam County Conservation District.
My rule of thumb: always add 40%. (I include the employer’s, the taxpayers’ share of FICA, Medicare, and other payroll taxes, which are for the benefit of the employee).
Don, you are spot on! ALWAYS add 35-40% of the stated salary to the actual cost of an employee, with the caveat that any pension portion of that compensation package continues on ad infinitum. Which is why so many municipal governments have found themselves in or near bankruptcy in the past couple of decades. Examples of this across the country abound ...
I bet County Administrator Todd Mielke would know off the top of his head. Or you could ask him how many employees there are and divide that by the payroll. Here is his email; he's very responsive: Todd.Mielke@clallamcountywa.gov
Is this it?? Average Annual Wage (Clallam County, 2024): $55,854
Covered Employment (Clallam County, 2024): 24,683 jobs
Where to find more information:
Washington Employment Security Department: Provides detailed labor market information and reports for Clallam County, including average annual wages for covered employment.
Indeed and Salary.com: Offer salary information for specific positions within Clallam County, though these are often based on self-reported data and may not reflect the total payroll.
Clallam County profile | Employment Security Department
Finance and insurance ($81,954) Information ($81,353) Management of companies and enterprises ($77,444) Professional, scientific a...
Employment Security Department (.gov)
Clallam County profile - Employment Security Department
Employment by industry, Clallam County 2024 annual average. ... Average annual covered employment in Clallam County was 24,683 in ...
Employment Security Department (.gov)
Salaries - How much does Clallam County pay? - Indeed
How much does Clallam County in the United States pay? Average Clallam County hourly pay ranges from approximately $20.66 per hour.
Proof that governments are not for citizens, schools are not for children, and hospitals are not for patients. They are to take tax money and turn it into jobs for people who will continue to vote to take more.
Re-election and NGOs that support them. That's their goal, the only goal of Kommissar Ozias and his fellow hoods. CC has sunk to the very low level of Chicago and Washington D.C. Voters who are clueless vote for these idiots? Why? Campaign contributions get their names 'recognized' and people vote the recognition not the facts. NGOs and the Tribe know this...
Some of you may remember a couple years ago or so, a local infant died in a house full of fentanyl smoke. There was also an infant death in Port Townsend where the baby was left with his addicted father in an encampment. In the PA council meeting presentation this week Bernbaum finally admitted WA has a serious problem yet doesn't seem clear on the root of the problem or what we should do about it:
“So we passed the policy that made it harder to affect separations in Washington state several years ago,” Bernbaum said. “Since that time, we’ve seen a significant increase in fentanyl-related deaths statewide, full stop, for everybody. And we have also seen, in particular among very young children, an increase in fentanyl-related deaths that are, when we go through the analysis, so avoidable.”
This will be a very politically challenging discussion, but “something needs to be done,” he said. (PDN today)
How about stop enabling drug and sex traffickers and pedophiles and start protecting children? a free lock box from the state for a parents drugs (current practice)is a dark sick joke. Stop the drug traffickers and stop harboring them in PA.
And the headline on the local paper said the county is facing a 2.1 million dollar deficet while granting a million dollar grant to Serenity House for rebuilding an apartment building. Clearly, the Commissioners have no idea what they are doing....or do they? I wonder which one of their favored NGOs gets that money...and what 'expenses' are paid to 'staff' ?
Does anyone remember when Port Angeles was in the running for best place to live in the US? Back around 2015? Guess what happens when you point out the amenities, the weather, the diversity, and the freebies to the rest of the world? Yes...they find you and they stake their own claim. As an example, please see California.
Face it, Port Angeles is now one of the 'go to' destinations for the down and out, the addicted and addled, and those looking for a handout and not a hand up. Beautiful scenery and an oh so compassionate crowd willing to overlook your peccadillos and even forgive your bail. As long as you have a lack of police presence, a lack of prosecutorial strength, and a lack of common sense on your council, it will continue.
How can these Commissioners look at themselves in the mirror? They probably can't because who they see looking back is a disappointing facade of a human being. I That's what I see when I look at them.
Denise, your comment reminded me of book, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" The story centers on what happens to Dorian after his soul is essentially extracted from the rest of his life and laid out on canvas.
God help one of "us" (Clallam County residents) if we inadvertently drive a few MPH over the speed limit or commit any number of other minor victimless infractions, but it's amazing that thieves and the most dangerous criminals from anywhere else in the country can come here to build their criminal resume~! HA~! How about THAT~! Is that a "policy failure" or a very intentional plot of the currently unindicted criminals within our own government~? The problem with calling this mess a "policy failure" is that dramatically violating all previously established common-sense government management procedures in Western Civilization can't logically be anything but intentionally doing harm... It really can't be a simple difference of opinion in crime prevention. I leave that for the good folks of Clallam County to determine... As an old American Constitutionalist, I COMPLETELY embrace the notion and critically important practice of society encouraging & welcoming folks to improve themselves~! That should be the universal American motto~!!! We ALL need to support people who truly want to live productive peaceful lives and leave their old problems & criminal past behind them. We have all made mistakes, many times very serious ones without even realizing that we made them, so all of us need to welcome those who are making the effort to stop their past anti-social and/or criminal behavior because doing anything less only fosters and encourages more & more criminal behavior. What motivation does any criminal have to stop his or her criminal behavior, if "we" (society) continues to punish them for their past behavior, instead of encouraging them to turn over a new leaf~? We need to restore America as the land of opportunity, as well as the land of justice, because both aspects are critical to achieve to have a Constitutional America. However, in the case where anti-social "bad actors" and/or criminals move to our community to continue their lives of criminal behavior, they need to be well aware that will NOT be tolerated. Importing criminals to our community and/or providing them with a new set of victims to harm, is obviously completely insane. Compassion must first be for those of us who live here who are doing our best to do so peacefully and without causing trouble for anyone... Oh, and as a side note, I am not so sure that by having more sheriffs in Clallam County that will hurt or help the good folks here, but I do know that it is all about the Constitutional quality of the sheriffs and especially their leader (management) that makes all of the difference in the world~! All Americans would be very well served if they were to research just how special the powers of the office of the sheriff really are in America, and how in many ways the sheriffs are the Americans BEST law enforcement and protection service~! Additionally, it should be noted that Washington DC, Hawaii, and Alaska do NOT have sheriffs, which is a HUGE problem that those who research the duties, Constitutional responsibilities, and charges of American sheriffs will see as deeply problematic~! So, as far as I know only 48 states actually have sheriffs. I am not sure about the American Territories, but I doubt that they have any sheriffs as well... The office of the sheriff is really a HUGE American Constitutional deal (subject) that ALL Americans absolutely must learn more about ASAP~!
When I lived on the west side of PA some time ago, there was a manhunt for a violent felon running through the neighborhoods, and a shelter in place was issued. There were police everywhere and I asked a friend in law enforcement how many different agencies responded. I was stunned when he listed:
Port Angeles Police Department
Clallam County Sheriff's
Washington State Police
Elwha Tribal Police
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Coast Guard Police
U.S. National Park Service Police
U.S. Forest Service Police
U.S. Customs agents
U.S. Marshal's Service
So with all these law enforcement agencies in PA what exactly are they all doing? There can't be a place anywhere in the USA with more law enforcement agencies than Port Angeles WA.
The Port Angeles School District has about 208 teachers.
In the Sheriff’s Department, 7 wear generals’ stars. Not long ago, not 1 uniformed officer in Washington State wore any stars, and only 1 wore an eagle.
How much is the proposed JPSF, Joint Public Safety Facility, home for the Emergency Operations Center, EOC, and 911 (PenComm).supposed to cost? Needed? How about all our vacant buildings?
There's an Invitation to Bid in PDN legals today for the joint safety building, it says $12 to $14 million excluding sales tax. Last spring they were up to $22M. The current amount is still a lot of money but funny how they can cut a project cost by that much when they have to. I have to wonder what unnecessary items they planned on spending that extra $8 to $10M on.
Ozias comment “Please support the modest Clallam County general fund levy lid lift this November so we can maintain service across all departments, from SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES to PUBLIC HEALTH to COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT to ELECTIONS. The county has worked very hard to cut costs and BUILD EFFICENCIES, but without additional support from you, we will be forced to consider ADDITIONAL PAINFUL CUTS” — Commissioner Mark Ozias
This is not a comment, this is a threat to the community! His naming the very offices that protect us, is a way to hold us hostage. Instead, he could have looked deeper and named many other areas that should be cut WAY before our safety and security. That is called being part of the solution.
In the least, the County Commissioners should step forward and offer to take pay cuts so that along with the rest of us, they would feel the ADDITIONAL PAINFUL CUTS and not have other people feel the pain and devastation when they lose their jobs! We need more police not threats!
Commissoners, please review your job description: Below is a short outline of your Mission Statement and (3) of your Long-term Goals
https://clallamcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/537/Commissioners-PDF
Commissioners
MISSION STATEMENT:
Clallam County provides services as required by law or mandated BY THE PUBLIC. Through EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT of PERSONNEL and other resources, the County strives to provide the basic facilities and programs which promote HEALTH, SAFETY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS CITIZENS.
Core Values
• Leadership
• Collaboration
• ACCOUNTABILITY
• COMMUNICATION with our EMPLOYEES and CITIZENS
• Partnerships with industry
• Customer service
LONG-TERM GOALS:
Clallam County's Strategic Plan contains thirteen long-term goals: (Here are the TOP three)
• Keep Clallam County Government Effective
• Provide for the SAFETY and SECURITY of County citizens
• Improve and protect public health
I've never seen this. Good research, Jennifer!
They ignored all 1000+ petition signers. If the CCC want to hear from us they will knock on our door and ask us for our opinion.
Could someone interpret this for me.
Clallam County Scrambles to Close $1.9 Million Budget Gap Without Layoffs
• by Radio Pacific, Inc
• October 9, 2025
PORT ANGELES — Clallam County officials are working to avoid layoffs as they address a projected $1.9 million budget deficit for 2026.
County Administrator Todd Mielke presented a preliminary budget this week, saying the shortfall—originally estimated at nearly $3.3 million—was reduced through one-time and recurring revenue sources, as well as spending cuts.
“If you had asked me six weeks ago where I thought we were, I would have said we were looking at eliminating the equivalent of 20 to 25 positions. I’m happy to say there’s a way — using a lot of one-time budget adjustments — that won’t require any reductions. It’s not sustainable, it gets us through one year,” said Mielke.
Revenue boosts include $549,000 from water project fund transfers, $200,000 in surplus property sales, and increased tax and fee projections. Spending cuts total over $1 million, including reductions in grants, labor placeholders, and software costs.
The proposed $55.7 million general fund budget includes $58.2 million in expenditures—up nearly 5 percent from 2025—driven mostly by payroll and benefits.
Commissioners are weighing six budget options, ranging from temporary fixes to cuts affecting up to 11 full-time positions. No decisions have been made.
Here's what I know:
- They are considering a "one-time" dip into reserves to bridge the gap. This puts off the hard decisions and kicks the can down the road until next year.
- Announcing that they are going to lay off 25 people, and then announcing they have done the hard work to keep them all, is just a way to pat themselves on the back and show the public how creative they are, like they are putting in the hard work. I'd guess that was always the plan so that they can pat themselves on the back.
- The $549k from a water project, I believe, was earmarked for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir that is awaiting $30 million in funding from FEMA. With federal funding uncertainty, I think they feel comfortable bringing that money back into the general fund for now... but they could need it later if the project gets greenlit.
- I'm not sure about the $200k in surplus property sales. I sat through that, and have forgotten.
- Part of the spending cuts are to the Clallam Conservation District. They aren't funding them $60k/year anymore because YOU are funding them $2 million over the next decade. They call that savings.
Jeff, Thank you, now I understand (maybe)
A Shell Game
Confidence trick
The shell game (also known as thimblerig, three shells and a pea, the old army game) is a public gambling game that challenges players to follow the movement of a marker hidden under one of several covers (shells). In practice, the game is almost always run as a confidence trick that uses sleight of hand to transfer the marker between covers.
Easiest way to look at it. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. In a few short months, some other long forgotten and overlooked program will have a shortfall and they will have to find another "can" to kick down the road.
Teri, sounds like the "can" will be more taxes.
Weird...I've never seen any Leadership, Accountability, or Communication with citizens, come out of any of our Commissioners for many years! Are you sure that our Commissioners have read their own Mission Statement?!?!?!
FAIL!
AFB, its not only an F, its an F-
This is a threat! And Ozias IS holding us all hostage. Free pizza, anyone? “Please support the modest Clallam County general fund levy lid lift this November so we can maintain MODEST service across all departments"
It's called extortion, or if you want to use the political term, it's called quid pro quo. The Mafia used it very effectively for years by telling store owners that they would be protected from the thugs if they paid the Mafia x amount of dollars per year for protection. Granted, the Mafia was/were the thugs that store owners were paying the Mafia to save them from. It's quite ingenious and eliminates those horrible middlemen. As for the County Commissioners taking a pay cut...surely, you jest. They're working very, very hard to rip you off. Have a heart.
Pierce County sheriff is mumbling the same as the council might chop his budget back also..
I think I saw Jimmy Hoffa in a crab pot. Whoa! got to cut back on the crown royal.
Good article, hope people’s eyes are opening up. A friend of mine had an encounter at his elderly father’s house. His father lives off a road and down a private road along with 3 other neighbors. His dad saw a car down by his shop and told my friend. The friend went down there to find an Oregon car with a guy and women in it. He tapped on the window and asked what they were doing there. They said they came up from Oregon and was looking for a place to sleep. Not here you aren’t and in not such kind words get out of here. He could tell that they were druggies. Thank goodness he was there who knows what would have happened.
I find these people come down our private road at least 4-5 times a week and we have to chase them off. There’s to much drug abuse, stealing, and I’m scared physical altercations going on.
Citizens of CLALLAM COUNTY, please don’t take Ozias fear monger make you vote differently, the only way we can get to right the wrong is to stand up to them!!
There is a win win, but the politicians we elect will not get us there. The preoccupation with minority-ism in it's infinite forms, ( indigenous, darker skin color, female, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual deviancy, drug addicted, obesity, DEI, MWBE, LGBTQ+ etc. ), must end. In aggregate this futile pursuit of some utopian equality is horribly expensive and it is unattainable. The nature of nature is that we are all unique. We cannot and never will be all "the same". All of the investment in minority-ism can be moved to safety and security where it does and will protect everyone equally.
Exactly! We are individual humans not this that or the other thing.
We saw a man waving a machete at Carrie Blake park yesterday. The children from the kids Orchestra noticed him walking through the band shell buildings. The police were called but by the time an officer showed up the man had “disappeared”. Stay safe Sequim……they are everywhere these days!!!
Erin, thank you for telling us about this. Putting the safety of Clallam County Citizens is on the bottom of the list and threatening to be the first cuts made is a breaking point! How could they let it get this bad? Why should children be at risk? Will it take a tragic incident to force the Commissioners to do their job? I'm ashamed they represent us, or rather don't represent us.
Exactly. And I'm worried that there are more incidents that we just haven't heard about. Our trusted news sources are limited.
AFB, above, Chris Clark just named another incident that seems to happen to TWO citizens. I don't blame the police, what can they do when they are underemployed, underpaid, under-supported and under careless Commissioners.
How many more under-reported incidences are out there?
Is there any other than CC Watchdog?🐕
maybe the police /sheriff have a scanner?
https://www.radioreference.com/db/browse/ctid/2962
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1358295401005994/
Is this the same guy who’s been waving a machete in PA for YEARS?
He is a living breathing walking problem= tax prop.
My daughter described him as a 40-50 year old dirty guy who was large and husky, almost bald, wearing a silver chain and a gold chain, with an oversized Carhartt jacket where he had the machete stashed. He was walking down the breezeway when the kids were going in for Orchestra practice. He wasn’t mean or menacing to the kids but apparently was outside waving the hidden machete around enough to draw attention and a lady saw him and called the police.
Erin, that guy! Around my son's area they call him "krustyballs"
good grief...
Id rather get it straight to the chin with a punch than a machete.
Thanks John, I needed that to calm myself down ; )
Come on, man...!
Sounds like we need to get a new prosecutor . Nichols is clearly not doing his job.
and a hanging judge.
Maybe LE should hand out business cards to the unregistered sex offenders they encounter that lists Ozias' address and just the words, "Free housing & pizza."
That way all sex offenders will have an address to be registered to.
Yeah, and then they won't be vagrants.🥵
Well, that's a good thing. Vagrants get away with everything. With an address, not so much.
Andrea, the dilemma is, ADDRESS=pay for pizza VAGRANT=free pizza. It could be a cliffhanger decision.
I'd like to know which pizza establishment is getting all the business??
Westside in PA.
At least it's local and putting people to work. Vegan options, too.
AFB, me too, it must be some kick ass pizza. It draws people in from far and wide!
LOL. Lots of anchovies...yum
That's the best case scenario! Furthermore... make Mark pay the bill, as the person at his address would be responsible for it!
One county commissioner stated to me that his number one priority for our tax dollars is public safety. He shows this by rubber stamping every request for money that supports programs that seem to be undermining public safety. Free pizza to entice addicts to quit the addiction. Taxpayer funded housing for homeless and non-profits who make a living from perpetuating rather than solving the problems. The list goes on. Actions have consequences. Science classes taught me that any action has a equal and opposite reaction. Consequences need to be delt out for unlawful behavior. Vagrants (someone who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support) should be dealt with legally, not housed in free buses and allowed, or encouraged, to take up space on our street, sidewalks, alleyways, store parking lots, parks, private drives, etc.. So much for public safety being the number one priority. Put OUR MONEY where your mouth is. Shame!
NGO's.......no problem, no paycheck.
Let’s talk county budget. From the PDN:
“The bulk of the county’s money goes toward personnel costs. Payroll is at $29.573 million, or 51 percent, while benefits are at $11.639 million, or 20 percent. Other expenditures include $1.682 million (3 percent) for supplies, $9.679 million (16 percent) for services, $1.351 million (2 percent) for capital, $1.528 million (3 percent) for transfers out, $2.377 million (4 percent) for payment to risk management/WC funds and $392,000 (1 percent) for debt service.
“Expenditures for 2026 are expected to be 4.81 percent (or $2.647 million) more than 2025, according to the presentation.”
In other words, you have too many employees for your budget. Doesn’t that tell you it’s time to trim the fat, along with stupid crap like paying for a poet laureate???
The benefits are over 39% of payroll. I believe benefits are one of the big item destroying America, those with versus those without.
Not including benefits in their remuneration is a subterfuge used by our teachers and others like the Director of Clallam County Conservation District.
My rule of thumb: always add 40%. (I include the employer’s, the taxpayers’ share of FICA, Medicare, and other payroll taxes, which are for the benefit of the employee).
Thus, actual payroll is $41,212,000.
Don, you are spot on! ALWAYS add 35-40% of the stated salary to the actual cost of an employee, with the caveat that any pension portion of that compensation package continues on ad infinitum. Which is why so many municipal governments have found themselves in or near bankruptcy in the past couple of decades. Examples of this across the country abound ...
I wanted to compute the average per county employee, but search of county website produced smoke. Even AI couldn’t say.
I bet County Administrator Todd Mielke would know off the top of his head. Or you could ask him how many employees there are and divide that by the payroll. Here is his email; he's very responsive: Todd.Mielke@clallamcountywa.gov
Thanks, Jeff, but I’d rather not.
Is this it?? Average Annual Wage (Clallam County, 2024): $55,854
Covered Employment (Clallam County, 2024): 24,683 jobs
Where to find more information:
Washington Employment Security Department: Provides detailed labor market information and reports for Clallam County, including average annual wages for covered employment.
Indeed and Salary.com: Offer salary information for specific positions within Clallam County, though these are often based on self-reported data and may not reflect the total payroll.
Clallam County profile | Employment Security Department
Finance and insurance ($81,954) Information ($81,353) Management of companies and enterprises ($77,444) Professional, scientific a...
Employment Security Department (.gov)
Clallam County profile - Employment Security Department
Employment by industry, Clallam County 2024 annual average. ... Average annual covered employment in Clallam County was 24,683 in ...
Employment Security Department (.gov)
Salaries - How much does Clallam County pay? - Indeed
How much does Clallam County in the United States pay? Average Clallam County hourly pay ranges from approximately $20.66 per hour.
This is for all workers in the county not just county employees, but thanks, and compare the $55,854 to it when and if.
Proof that governments are not for citizens, schools are not for children, and hospitals are not for patients. They are to take tax money and turn it into jobs for people who will continue to vote to take more.
Re-election and NGOs that support them. That's their goal, the only goal of Kommissar Ozias and his fellow hoods. CC has sunk to the very low level of Chicago and Washington D.C. Voters who are clueless vote for these idiots? Why? Campaign contributions get their names 'recognized' and people vote the recognition not the facts. NGOs and the Tribe know this...
Some of you may remember a couple years ago or so, a local infant died in a house full of fentanyl smoke. There was also an infant death in Port Townsend where the baby was left with his addicted father in an encampment. In the PA council meeting presentation this week Bernbaum finally admitted WA has a serious problem yet doesn't seem clear on the root of the problem or what we should do about it:
“So we passed the policy that made it harder to affect separations in Washington state several years ago,” Bernbaum said. “Since that time, we’ve seen a significant increase in fentanyl-related deaths statewide, full stop, for everybody. And we have also seen, in particular among very young children, an increase in fentanyl-related deaths that are, when we go through the analysis, so avoidable.”
This will be a very politically challenging discussion, but “something needs to be done,” he said. (PDN today)
How about stop enabling drug and sex traffickers and pedophiles and start protecting children? a free lock box from the state for a parents drugs (current practice)is a dark sick joke. Stop the drug traffickers and stop harboring them in PA.
And the headline on the local paper said the county is facing a 2.1 million dollar deficet while granting a million dollar grant to Serenity House for rebuilding an apartment building. Clearly, the Commissioners have no idea what they are doing....or do they? I wonder which one of their favored NGOs gets that money...and what 'expenses' are paid to 'staff' ?
Great questions.
Does anyone remember when Port Angeles was in the running for best place to live in the US? Back around 2015? Guess what happens when you point out the amenities, the weather, the diversity, and the freebies to the rest of the world? Yes...they find you and they stake their own claim. As an example, please see California.
Face it, Port Angeles is now one of the 'go to' destinations for the down and out, the addicted and addled, and those looking for a handout and not a hand up. Beautiful scenery and an oh so compassionate crowd willing to overlook your peccadillos and even forgive your bail. As long as you have a lack of police presence, a lack of prosecutorial strength, and a lack of common sense on your council, it will continue.
How can these Commissioners look at themselves in the mirror? They probably can't because who they see looking back is a disappointing facade of a human being. I That's what I see when I look at them.
Denise, your comment reminded me of book, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" The story centers on what happens to Dorian after his soul is essentially extracted from the rest of his life and laid out on canvas.
Wonder what their portraits would look like now?
It would be like a puzzle with lots of pieces missing.
God help one of "us" (Clallam County residents) if we inadvertently drive a few MPH over the speed limit or commit any number of other minor victimless infractions, but it's amazing that thieves and the most dangerous criminals from anywhere else in the country can come here to build their criminal resume~! HA~! How about THAT~! Is that a "policy failure" or a very intentional plot of the currently unindicted criminals within our own government~? The problem with calling this mess a "policy failure" is that dramatically violating all previously established common-sense government management procedures in Western Civilization can't logically be anything but intentionally doing harm... It really can't be a simple difference of opinion in crime prevention. I leave that for the good folks of Clallam County to determine... As an old American Constitutionalist, I COMPLETELY embrace the notion and critically important practice of society encouraging & welcoming folks to improve themselves~! That should be the universal American motto~!!! We ALL need to support people who truly want to live productive peaceful lives and leave their old problems & criminal past behind them. We have all made mistakes, many times very serious ones without even realizing that we made them, so all of us need to welcome those who are making the effort to stop their past anti-social and/or criminal behavior because doing anything less only fosters and encourages more & more criminal behavior. What motivation does any criminal have to stop his or her criminal behavior, if "we" (society) continues to punish them for their past behavior, instead of encouraging them to turn over a new leaf~? We need to restore America as the land of opportunity, as well as the land of justice, because both aspects are critical to achieve to have a Constitutional America. However, in the case where anti-social "bad actors" and/or criminals move to our community to continue their lives of criminal behavior, they need to be well aware that will NOT be tolerated. Importing criminals to our community and/or providing them with a new set of victims to harm, is obviously completely insane. Compassion must first be for those of us who live here who are doing our best to do so peacefully and without causing trouble for anyone... Oh, and as a side note, I am not so sure that by having more sheriffs in Clallam County that will hurt or help the good folks here, but I do know that it is all about the Constitutional quality of the sheriffs and especially their leader (management) that makes all of the difference in the world~! All Americans would be very well served if they were to research just how special the powers of the office of the sheriff really are in America, and how in many ways the sheriffs are the Americans BEST law enforcement and protection service~! Additionally, it should be noted that Washington DC, Hawaii, and Alaska do NOT have sheriffs, which is a HUGE problem that those who research the duties, Constitutional responsibilities, and charges of American sheriffs will see as deeply problematic~! So, as far as I know only 48 states actually have sheriffs. I am not sure about the American Territories, but I doubt that they have any sheriffs as well... The office of the sheriff is really a HUGE American Constitutional deal (subject) that ALL Americans absolutely must learn more about ASAP~!
Sheriffs matter~! ;-)
Sincerely, Mike
When I lived on the west side of PA some time ago, there was a manhunt for a violent felon running through the neighborhoods, and a shelter in place was issued. There were police everywhere and I asked a friend in law enforcement how many different agencies responded. I was stunned when he listed:
Port Angeles Police Department
Clallam County Sheriff's
Washington State Police
Elwha Tribal Police
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Coast Guard Police
U.S. National Park Service Police
U.S. Forest Service Police
U.S. Customs agents
U.S. Marshal's Service
So with all these law enforcement agencies in PA what exactly are they all doing? There can't be a place anywhere in the USA with more law enforcement agencies than Port Angeles WA.
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/1910s-keystone-cops-piling-into-squad-car-outside-stock-video-footage/2004-243
A little perspective:
0.8 x 80 = 64
That would make 5 Marine Squads.
2.4 x 80 = 192
The Port Angeles School District has about 208 teachers.
In the Sheriff’s Department, 7 wear generals’ stars. Not long ago, not 1 uniformed officer in Washington State wore any stars, and only 1 wore an eagle.
How much is the proposed JPSF, Joint Public Safety Facility, home for the Emergency Operations Center, EOC, and 911 (PenComm).supposed to cost? Needed? How about all our vacant buildings?
Other spending proposals?
Reinvest in night sticks, aka Billy Clubs.
There's an Invitation to Bid in PDN legals today for the joint safety building, it says $12 to $14 million excluding sales tax. Last spring they were up to $22M. The current amount is still a lot of money but funny how they can cut a project cost by that much when they have to. I have to wonder what unnecessary items they planned on spending that extra $8 to $10M on.
So you read the SG story "Charges filed for 45 students allegedly involved in senior prank" and really was there any punishment?
? No, no clue